Ever Since I've had my car, the bottom front mount for my power steering pump has been cracked and I always wondered what caused it but never really worried as it was just fine like that for the first 4 months I owned it. The other day I took off my pump, replaced a seal and put it back on with just the top mount in place along with the bottom bolt and thought nothing more of it, assuming that once again just the top mount would hold up fine.

Well I was very wrong because yesterday I had to have my car towed when the top mount (and in fact the whole pump) cracked off, throwing the serpentine belt and meaning no P/S, Alternator and quite scarily water pump. Luckily I managed to get off the road just as the needle went into the red, there's no oil/coolant mix at all and the pressure cap didnt let go so I think I got lucky there.

My question is, what caused not one, but both of the mounting points to crack on different occasions with different people? When I replaced it I tightened it up to what I thought seemed like about right, is there a specific torque to use?

I've got a new pump on the way but I really dont want this to happen again.